Anderson, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down both the Trojans of Anderson and the Tigers of Benedict in the final two games of the Early Bird Tournament. The Warriors defeated Benedict in a 12-4 final score, and then took down Anderson in extra innings in a 2-1 final score.
The Warriors collected 12 hits in the first game of the day. Taylor Palfrey led the team as she went 4-4 at the plate. Addi Johnson picked up two hits and led the team with five RBIs. Both Johnson and Riley Wilson had doubles. Palfrey hit her second inside the park home run of the year and Johnson recorded her second grand slam of the season. Southern Wesleyan walked five times and had eight stolen bases. Palfrey had three steals with both Chalee Roper and Riley Brown following with two. Amberly Way started the game for the Warriors and pitched five innings while striking out six batters.
Southern Wesleyan had three hits in game two. Talissa Cannady doubled. Taylor Palfrey and Cannady each had RBIs. The Warriors walked two times and Riley Wilson was hit by a pitch. Olivia Haag started the second game and pitched all eight innings while striking out eight batters.
Game Vitals
Game One Final: Southern Wesleyan 12, Benedict 4
Game Two Final: Southern Wesleyan 2, Anderson 1
Records: Southern Wesleyan (8-2) Anderson (2-7) Benedict (0-5)
How It Happened
Game One: Southern Wesleyan vs Benedict
Southern Wesleyan struck early in the first inning as Taylor Palfrey drove the ball to deep left center field. The ball stayed in the park, but Palfrey's speed took her all around the bases for an inside the park home run to give the Warriors a 1-0 run lead.
The Warriors pushed on in the second inning. Hannah Truett led off the inning with a single to left field and then advanced to second on a ground out by Olivia Haag. Riley Wilson walked. With two on, Madison Truett hit into a fielder's choice that took Hannah Truett off the bases but advanced Wilson to second. Taylor Palfrey followed with a single to the pitcher to load up the bases and bring Addi Johnson up to the plate. Johnson drilled the ball over the left field wall for her second grand slam of the season and to extend the Warriors lead to 5-0.
Benedict countered as they scored runs in the bottom of the second and third innings to cut Southern Wesleyan's lead down to one.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Warriors struck again. Taylor Palfrey collected her third hit of the game to lead off the inning and then stole second base. Addi Johnson sent the ball to left field for a double that brought Palfrey in to score. A wild pitch allowed Johnson to advance to third. Avery Mercer singled to left center field to bring Johnson in to score. Chalee Roper came in to pinch run for Mercer and then stole both second and third bases. An error by the Tigers pitcher allowed Roper to come in to score.
Olivia Haag led off for the Warriors in the top of the fifth inning with a single to left field. Riley Brown came in to pinch run for Haag and stole second and third base. Riley Wilson hit a double to right center field to bring Brown in to score. With one out and Wilson on third base, Taylor Palfrey singled to short stop to bring Wilson in to score. Palfrey went on to steal second and third base. Addi Johnson walked and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. A walk to Avery Mercer loaded up the bases. Amberly Way hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to bring Palfrey in to score to give the Warriors a 12-4 run lead and win the game.
Game Two: Southern Wesleyan vs Anderson
The Warriors attacked in the top of the fourth inning. Amberly Way led off with a walk. With Riley Brown pinch running for Way, Talissa Cannady doubled to right center field to bring Brown in to score.
Southern Wesleyan and Olivia Haag kept the Trojans off the board until the bottom of the seventh inning when a double by Hibbs brought Barrick in to score to tie the game up and force it to go into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning and with Chalee Roper on second base, Roper advanced to third on a wild pitch. Riley Wilson walked to put runners on the corners. With one out, Taylor Palfrey hit a single down the left field line to bring Roper in to score and give the Warriors a 2-1 run victory over the Trojans.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return home on February 16 as they host the Georgia College Bobcats. The Warriors will then host Claflin University on February 21. They will then travel to Wise, VA on February 23 to take on the UVA Wise Cavaliers.
